How do I handfeed a baby zebra finch using instant nutri start! Answers needed ASAP!!!!?

Question

The mother refused to care for it and I lost the pamphlet that went with the nutri start. This will be my first time handfeeding and I atleast want to give this baby a chance

I just need to know how to feed it, when to feed it and how I mix this nutri start.

Please and thank you!

Answer 1

I'm assuming it's young?

Baby birds do not need to be fed for the first 24-36 hours after they hatch.  During this time they are still absorbing the remainder of their yolk sac.  Do not try to force feed the baby if its not begging because you could end up inadvertently killing it by getting food in its trachaea or windpipe.

The bird will start begging once it is hungry, don't worry.  Right now you need to concern yourself with keeping it warm.  It needs to be kept in a brooder at AT LEAST 90 deg. F for the first few days.

Luckily Zebs are born with a bit of hairy down so it helps maintain their body temp so you could get away with between 80-85 but 90-95 would be best.

The formula must be fed as close to body temperature as possible.  If it is too cold you can give the chick a candida (yeast) infection.  

The easiest way for you to get formula at the correct temp is to heat water in a clean coffee cup in the microwave. Then put a very small amount of handfeeding formula in a Solo Cup Company paper cup that holds ¾ oz of liquid.  To this add water that you have heated to 110 degrees.

Then, take the formula you have mixed in the cup and place the cup inside the water in the coffee cup. This insures the formula stays warm and you have enough time to feed the bird without it getting cool.  110 degrees is too hot to feed to the chick as is but by the time you get ready and get the food into the bird it will have cooled to approximately 103-104 degrees which is the ultimate temperature to feed a finch. Mix the consistency of water/formula so that it is not watery but not too thick.  A pancake batter consistency will be just fine and it shouldn't drip off the feeding tool.

DO NOT microwave the water and formula together because hot spots can occur and unknowingly you can feed food that is dangerously hot.  Be careful not to feed the formula too hot or you will burn the crop of the chick.  Too cold and the chick will not want to eat and digestive problems/bacteria will surely occur.

To feed - use a flat ended toothpick or something similar for now.  If you can, go to www.birdsupplynh.com and order some of these:

http://www.birdsupplynh.com/catalog/prod...

They will make feeding easier as the chick gets older.

Good luck - hand feeding a finch is not easy.  Don't feel horrible if the little guy doesn't make it. At least you gave it a shot.

Answer 2

Here's some excellent instructions:

http://www.lafeber.com/products/feeding_...